16 Fabulous Children’s Books that Celebrate Native American Culture : Why Representation Matters in Children’s Literature
One of the simplest ways to celebrate diverse cultures with the little one(s) in your life is through diverse representation within the books you read together.
Top Books Celebrating Native American Culture for Infants + Toddlers
Cradle Me by Debby Slier - Explore the rich Native American tradition of carrying babies safely, comfortably and close to their mothers in cradle boards through this sturdy board book that features cradle boards from Paiute, Shoshone, Pueblo, and other Native American tribes.
My Heart Fills with Happiness by Monique Gray Smith - International speaker and award-winning author Monique Gray Smith wrote My Heart Fills with Happiness to support the wellness of Indigenous children and families, and to encourage young children to reflect on what makes them happy.
Little You by Richard Van Camp - This book won the 2016 American Indian Youth Literature Award for best picture book and features beautiful illustrations that show a parent's love for a new baby.
We Sang You Home by Richard Van Camp - We Sang You Home is a gentle story about a parent's unconditional love for a child. The lullaby-style story is a great way to share connections between young readers and their adults.
Top Books Celebrating Native American Culture for 3-5 Year Olds
We All Play by Julie Flett - Written in both English and Cree, award-winning author/illustrator Julie Flett shares a joyful celebration of play that highlights our interconnection with the creatures who share our world.
Birdsong by Julie Flett - Earning An American Indian Youth Literature Honor Title among other awards, Birdsong is a simple and profound read aloud that offers a reminder that finding a new friend can make a new place feel like home.
Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard - This warm and charming Native American food story depicts the diversity of indigenous peoples, the role of continuity between generations, and the adaptation of people, places, and traditions over time.
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell - This informative and authentic introduction to a thriving ancestral and ceremonial way of life is perfect for holiday and family sharing.
Berry Song by Michaela Goade - Tapping into themes of people’s connection to nature—and nature’s to people—this captivating read-aloud celebrates core values of Tlingit culture and invites readers to recognize this intersection.
Remember by Joy Harjo - Featuring dazzling earth-inspired illustrations that are drawn from her Tlingit culture, Remember is a celebration of interconnectedness and reciprocity with and respect for all living things and systems on this planet.
I Sang You Down from the Stars by Tasha Spillett-Sumner - Written by Tasha Spillett-Sumner, a Cree and Trinidadian award-winning poet and author who is also working on her doctoral degree in Indigenous land-based education, this book sings with Native cultural detail, while striking a universal chord in its celebration of the blossoming of love that comes with expecting and welcoming a new baby.
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom - In this tribute to Native resilience, Indigenous author-and-illustrator team Lindstrom and Goade invite readers to stand up for environmental justice. An inspiring call to action for all who care about our interconnected plane.
Everybody Needs a Rock by Byrd Baylor - Written by Byrd Baylor, an author who dedicated 40 years of her life to writing works that celebrated the Southwest’s Native American culture and wildlife, this beloved book encourages children to think and examine the world around them (and teaches the ten rules that one must follow in order to select the perfect rock for a friend!).
Winter’s Gifts (An Indigenous Celebration of Nature) by Kaitlin B. Curtice - A vibrantly illustrated children’s book about an Indigenous girl who finds awe in the resting and waiting that winter teaches us and shares with her friends how Creator’s gift of gratitude can transform the way we see the world.
Top Books Celebrating Native American Culture for Big Kids (Kindergarten + )
Native American Stories for Kids by Tom Pecore Weso - Including twelve traditional stories from Indigenous tribes across North America, this collection is an essential read for all American kids (and their parents) to better understand the first peoples of this land. Bringing together brilliantly illustrated and fascinatingly written stories from tribes across regions of the United States, this collection gives us Menominee, Navajo (Dine), Athabascan, Cherokee, Zuni Pueblo, Cheyenne, and more stories, each one folding in historical context and native traditions.
We Are Still Here!: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know by Traci Sorell (ages 8-10) - This companion book to the award-winning We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga offers readers everything they never learned in school about Native American people's past, present, and future.
Why does representation matter?
Regardless of age, all people form ideas and beliefs about individuals and groups based on what we see around us and what we are told. Therefore, it is important for children to get sufficient, positive coverage of a wide range of cultural backgrounds and beliefs.
Providing diverse representation in children's books is important for:
Cultural Understanding: Exposure to diverse characters and cultures helps children develop a broader understanding of the world around them. It fosters empathy, openness to differences, and appreciation for backgrounds that are different from their own.
Reducing Stereotypes: Diverse representation helps challenge and break down stereotypes. When children see characters from various racial and ethnic backgrounds engaged in a variety of roles and activities, it dispels narrow-minded stereotypes.
Inclusive Identity Formation: All children, regardless of their background, benefit from seeing characteristics of themselves in the books and media they consume. It contributes to a positive self-image and a sense of identity.
Preparation for a Diverse World: In an increasingly interconnected and diverse world, it's crucial for children to develop cultural competence. Exposure to diverse characters in literature prepares them to navigate and thrive in a society with people from various backgrounds.
Promoting Equality: Diverse representation promotes the idea that all individuals, regardless of their background, have stories worth telling and perspectives worth sharing. It reinforces the principle of equality and inclusion.
Cognitive Development: Exposure to diverse literature enhances cognitive development by broadening children's perspectives and encouraging critical thinking. It helps them understand that there are multiple valid viewpoints and experiences.
Building Positive Relationships: When children encounter characters from diverse backgrounds in literature, it can positively influence their attitudes and behaviors towards individuals from different racial and ethnic groups. It lays the foundation for forming positive relationships in the real world.
Overall, diverse representation in children's books promotes a more inclusive, understanding, and harmonious society by instilling values of empathy, respect, and appreciation for diversity from an early age.